5 Reasons Why Right Now is a Great Time to Soil Sample

The time to sample your soil has arrived.

Most producers tend to sample their soil in mid-to-late September, but by waiting too long you may be missing a valuable opportunity to understand your soil composition.

This is especially true for Manitoba farmers this year. After the hot and dry summer we’ve had, current weather conditions are perfect for soil sampling.

What Are the Advantages of Sampling Behind the Combine?

Many farmers don’t sample their soil early in the season because of a common misconception, which states that decomposing grain straw adds additional nitrates to the soil which may be missed if the soil is sampled too early.

However, NSU research has shown that soil nitrate levels don’t change significantly after small grain harvests, and instead tend to remain relatively stable throughout the fall. (Source: Agvise)

Other reasons why now is a great time to soil sample include:

1. Sampling right behind the combine allows you to beat chisel plows to the field and access a “clean” soil slice to a known depth consistency, resulting in a better-quality sample for phosphorus, potassium, %OM, zinc, and other nutrients tested in the topsoil.

2. Early sampling will indicate the amount of nitrate that will be available for the next year’s crop.

3. Sampling immediately after a harvest guarantees that fields won’t be missed due to weather issues like early frost or snow in the fall.

4. Having soil results in-hand before fall fieldwork begins means growers already have the data needed to make decisions about their fall N applications.

5. Early soil sampling helps farmers maximize their time and increase efficiencies by getting started on sampling  early instead of scrambling to sample before the freeze-up.

Book Your Soil Testing Now

By taking advantage of this optimal window for soil sampling you can make the most informed decisions about your soil chemistry and application decisions, which increases efficiency and maximize the potential yield on your land.

We’re proud to support Manitoba’s busy farmers by offering soil testing as part of our FarmForward program. 

This comprehensive program includes:

We offer many other solutions that help growers maximize their yield and make informed, data-driven decisions about their land.

The hot, dry summer we’ve experienced here in Manitoba makes right now the perfect time for soil sampling. 

If you’re interested in booking soil sampling, contact us at soiltest@ennsbros.com or call 1-855-404-3667 (ENNS).